Smart Cities and Digital Governance

Author(s):  
Mamoona Humayun ◽  
N. Z. Jhanjhi ◽  
Malak Z. Alamri ◽  
Azeem Khan

With the ubiquitous low-cost sensor devices and widespread use of IoT, the paradigm is shifted from urban areas towards a smart city. A smart city is an urban area that uses IoT technologies to collect data and manage resources efficiently. The vision is to improve the capabilities and to solve the citizens' problems (e.g., energy consumption, transportation, recycling, intelligent security, etc.) in an efficient way. A smart city is a multidimensional term including a smart economy, smart mobility, smart living, smart environment, smart people, and smart governance. Although the concept of a smart city is increasing and currently there exist many such cities in many developed countries, one of the key challenges faced by these cities is good governance. Smart cities need smart governance to run the city in a smarter way, and effective digital governance is a solution to this end. Digital governance refers to the use of digital technology in government practices.

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 5191
Author(s):  
Andrzej Sobczak ◽  
Leszek Ziora

Smart cities are an extremely important, multi-faceted subject, both in terms of their practical aspects and in terms of research. This is expressed, among other things, in the multitude of approaches to this concept. These approaches differ based on the emphasis placed on individual aspects: some focus more on technology, and others put more weight on social issues, while still others value sustainable development issues. Currently, an important topic of discussion about the development of the smart city—the importance of which has become even greater in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic—is the digital transformation of the city. The use of robotic process automation (RPA) tools can be a part of such a transformation, as such tools, using advanced software, enable the automation of those tasks carried out thus far by humans. Although such an approach has, to date, been widespread in the case of enterprises (in particular, those operating in the financial and BPO/SSC sectors, but less often in the utilities sector, the first applications of these solutions in the context of process automation for cities are also beginning to emerge in various parts of the world. This article is based on a case study approach. The implementation conditions (including the constraints) of such an approach, the benefits achieved, and the lessons learned (which can be important for other local government units) are outlined using the example of the Bydgoszcz city hall’s (Poland) electricity billing document management. The results of the case study presented here lead to the conclusion that the use of RPA tools enables, very quickly and at relatively low cost, measurable results to be achieved that are related to the processing of electricity billing documentation for the city of Bydgoszcz. This allows the assertion to be made that robotic process automation can be taken into consideration as one of the tools used to build smart cities.


Author(s):  
C. Altuntas

Abstract. The smart cities that promise a sustainable future cannot be thought of independently from the spatial information infrastructure. It is very important to keep the spatial data infrastructure up-to-date for guidance and information in smart city applications (SCA). Easy and low-cost acquisition is an important factor in updating spatial data. Today, there are many measurement techniques to collecting 3-D spatial data of urban areas and land topography. On the other hand, indoor measurement and 3-D modelling techniques are used in the creation of building information modelling (BIM). In this study, measurement techniques that provide 3-D point cloud data to SCA are examined. Consequently, image based photogrammetry and dense matching methods enable low cost measurement than LiDAR based active measurement. The active 3-D measurement techniques have high accuracy especially for mid and long ranges. The LiDAR, that can be applied at day or night time, offer more opportunity to performing SCA like autonomous vehicle and robotic navigations. Nevertheless, LiDAR can only capture structure, not texture, and therefore has limits to the types of data that it can capture. The LiDAR and image based methods are complement to each other in 3-D reality capture. The 3-D measurement techniques are exploited according to SCA as alone or together.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (30 (1)) ◽  
pp. 61-70
Author(s):  
Darie Gavrilut ◽  
Diana Teodora Trip ◽  
Carmen Florina Fagadar ◽  
Daniel Badulescu

The term smart city is often associated with the desire for accelerated modernization of space and urban social interactions, especially based on Information and Communications Technologies. Smart cities are creative and sustainable areas that bring improvements on the quality of life, a friendlier environment and where the prospects of/for economic development are stronger. Such cities are to be considered as the sum of the various improvements in urban infrastructure, the quality of services provided to citizens, the operational costs of public administration. Romania has several key cities that have begun their pivot from regular and only digitized cities, to smart cities. According to information from the Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC), in 2018, at Romanian national level, 24 cities could be considered smart, the following cities being most visible in terms of how many projects have been undertaken so as to develop a smart city: Alba Iulia city has 60 such projects, Cluj-Napoca city has 10, Arad has 9, Sibiu and Oradea each have 8 projects, and Bucharest has started six such projects. At 2020 level, we notice an increase in the number of projects in the following way: Alba-Iulia now has 106 projects, Cluj-Napoca has 54 projects, Timisoara 26, Arad and Iasi have each 19 projects, Brasov and Bucuresti (Sector 4) have 18 projects each, Oradea 17, Sibiu 15, and Piatra Neamț 15 projects. The main areas of interest being Smart Mobility, Smart Governance, Smart Living, Smart Economy, Smart Environment, and Smart People. Having set goals of cutting energy costs by 30% in the field of public transportation and an increase of 45% in terms of innovation products that are to be sourced locally, the city of Oradea has attracted project worth 369 million euros, and this entire sum has been achieved through EU funded grants.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 870
Author(s):  
Jitka Fialová ◽  
Dastan Bamwesigye ◽  
Jan Łukaszkiewicz ◽  
Beata Fortuna-Antoszkiewicz

This study aimed to explore the case study of Brno city regarding smart city models. We analyzed Brno considering smart and sustainable city elements, i.e., smart mobility/public transport, smart technology, smart people, smart governance, smart economy, smart living, and smart environment based on transport, energy, and environment referred herein as the smart city and sustainability model. Therefore, we investigated a case study of Brno city in the Czech Republic. We used qualitative techniques such as case study, exploration, observation, and description. We analyzed and comprehended the trends in the various features of smart city and sustainable development of the city of Brno. The findings showed that Brno city is doing its best to maintain smart city models through its governance organs and structures. The city is also working hard to improve some of the aspects that are still lagging. The ongoing developments and the future ones are based on strategic planning for both the short term and long term such as Brno2023, Brno2030, and Brno2050. It was found that Brno has a very well-planned transport system and is integrated with other aspects such as technology, energy, such as the electricity that moves the trolleybuses and trams, and environment. We strongly conclude that even though Brno city still struggles to achieve total sustainability, it is still a model and reflection of a smart and sustainable city. Finally, we noted that Brno city has very good plans and vision the “DNA” of a smart city. However, the implementation still suffers political willingness.


Author(s):  
T. M. Özbekler ◽  
A. Karaman Akgül

Abstract. As current cities are attributed to particular dynamism consists of population density and increased urbanization, urban areas are facing some challenges for city logistics, both in terms of economic, environmental, and social impact. Especially, the debates over last-mile logistics are arising with inefficiencies in delivery cost (half truckload on delivery) and delivery time per parcel (unnecessary waiting-load periods at multiple stops) while inner-urban areas are especially suffered from traffic congestion, emission, and noise pollution. In this regard, smart cities as a concept with the potential to produce sustainable solutions to urban problems bring along with the need for innovative urban logistics systems to make conventional distribution channels of the city up to date. The key objective tackled in this paper can be defined as the identification of the city logistics schemes with highlighting current approaches in smart cities. The study adopts a systemic approach based on the typology of consolidation-distribution schemes in city logistics to define the feasibility of micro logistics initiatives from the scope of the smart city consisting of mobility, sustainability, and liveability. Thanks to a detailed examination of city logistics dynamics, this study can contribute theoretically to smart city logistics literature as well as practically the logistics sector.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mochamad Yudha Febrianta ◽  
Indrawati ◽  
Husni Amani

Bandung became the center of urbanization in Indonesia, from 43 million people in West Java urbanization centered in the capital of West Java, namely the city of Bandung. The high level of urbanization becomes the main problem in Bandung; Problems arises, how to improve the service of Bandung City Government in managing and solving the issues arising from the impact of urbanization. Smart City is a solution to improve the function of Bandung City Government, especially in the field of Smart Governance to the Government of Bandung City Good Governance. To measure whether the city of Bandung has implemented Smart Governance required identification of dimensions and indicators that determine whether Bandung has implemented Smart Governance. Smart Governance dimensions and indicators are obtained from literature studies and then confirmed to respondents who have the expertise and having experience in the field of Smart City. The interview and focus group discussions conducted to the respondents, and the researcher will grasp the main variables and indicators which is coming up to determine whether Bandung City is implementing Smart Governance in proper ways. The new proposed model will come up from the interview and focus group discussion result. Also, there will be statements in measuring the readiness of Smart Governance implementation in Bandung or other cities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dillip Kumar Das

There is a changed perspective regarding the development of cities and increasingly many countries in the West and some developing countries, as in South Africa, are making concerted attempts to transform their cities to smart cities. Using the context of the city of Bloemfontein, South Africa and drawing on the perceptions of stakeholders, the objective of the paper is to offer a perspective on such a transformation. The study first assessed the performance of various factors and attributes that influence three important aspects of a smart city: economy, mobility and governance system. It then recorded the viewpoints of stakeholders about how these aspects can contribute to the development of a smart city. Further, Applied Systems Analysis (ASA) linked System Dynamics (SD) conceptual models based on the interlinkage and causal feedback relationships among various factors under each aspect were developed, which could assist in offering perspectives that would enable eliciting of policy interventions to develop smart cities. Findings indicate that there are potentials and positive indicators in all three aspects. It is emerged that reinforcement of the inter-relationship among entrepreneurship, innovation, productivity, economic image and international embeddedness will foster a smart economy. Efficient public transportation and advancement of Information Communication Technology (ICT) system will strengthen local accessibility and ensure an innovative, sustainable and safe transportation system that will result in smart mobility. Effective participation of stakeholders in the decision-making process alongside the elected city council and transparency will aid smart governance. The combined effect of these attributes should enable the transformation of the city to a smart city.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-279
Author(s):  
Aniq Fajriyati Sa'diyah ◽  
Eko Priyo Purnomo ◽  
Aulia Nur Kasiwi

The city of Bogor is one of the cities that has implemented the concept of smart city and is one of the centers of attention for the movement of people. The implementation of smart cities often has difficulty in applying various aspects. One of them is about environmental problems in urban areas that are very vulnerable to various damages such as garbage. One effort to improve the quality of the urban environment is the concept of Smart Environment. This study uses qualitative research with a descriptive approach. This research results that the condition of Bogor City which is dense makes the volume of waste increasing. In this case, waste management efforts such as the Trash Bank, 3R Trash Program, and impelemntation of waste management of IT based. However, in its application the City of Bogor experienced constraints on public awareness and participation. Keywords: Waste Management, Smart City, Smart Environment


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Bakri ◽  
Anita Ahmad Kasim

<p><em>Smart City comes as a strategy to reduce the problem due to rapid urban growth and urbanization. The concept of Smart City is needed to ensure the conditions of a habitable City in the context of rapidly growing urban population growth. The urgency of this challenge prompted many cities to begin to find smarter ways of managing urban areas. One way to make the concept of the smart city is to make the city an icon that is sustainable and livable. This study aims to provide the necessary information in building and developing a city through the smart city approach. This paper clarifies the meaning of the word "smart" in the city context through an approach based on an in-depth literature review of the relevant study. This study will identify the main factors and characteristics that characterize smart cities. The method used to obtain various factors and the characteristics of the Smart City in the arrangement of a region is done by studying various kinds of the literature of various concepts and components in the Smart City. The results obtained in this study there is a concept of Smart City in urban planning by mapping various factors and characteristics in the Smart City. </em></p><p><strong>Keywords</strong><em>: Smart City, Urban planning, smart city characteristic </em></p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-128
Author(s):  
Jason Cohen ◽  
Judy Backhouse ◽  
Omar Ally

Young people are important to cities, bringing skills and energy and contributing to economic activity. New technologies have led to the idea of a smart city as a framework for city management. Smart cities are developed from the top-down through government programmes, but also from the bottom-up by residents as technologies facilitate participation in developing new forms of city services. Young people are uniquely positioned to contribute to bottom-up smart city projects. Few diagnostic tools exist to guide city authorities on how to prioritise city service provision. A starting point is to understand how the youth value city services. This study surveys young people in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, and conducts an importance-performance analysis to identify which city services are well regarded and where the city should focus efforts and resources. The results show that Smart city initiatives that would most increase the satisfaction of youths in Braamfontein  include wireless connectivity, tools to track public transport  and  information  on city events. These  results  identify  city services that are valued by young people, highlighting services that young people could participate in providing. The importance-performance analysis can assist the city to direct effort and scarce resources effectively.


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